USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 1
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
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IOGRAPHICAL
ECORD
2
Gc 978.201 Sa8b 1343281
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01716 9894
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
THIS VOLUME CONTAINS
Biographical Sketches
_OF_
LEADING CITIZENS
_OF_
SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES,
NEBRASKA.
"Biography is the only true history."-Emerson.
BIOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, GEORGE RICHMOND, Pres .; S. HARMER NEFF, Sec'y .; C. R. ARNOLD, Treas. CHICAGO, ILL.
1900.
1340231
PREFACE
AVING brought to a successful termination our labors in Saunders and Sarpy Counties in compiling and editing the sketches herein contained, we desire, in presenting this Biographical Record to our patrons, to make a few remarks, necessarily brief, in regard to the value and importance of local works of this nature. We agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson that "Biography is the only true History," and also are of the opinion that a collection of the biog- raphies of the leading men of a nation would give more interesting, as well as authentic, history of their country than any other that could be written. The value of such a production as this cannot be too highly estimated. With each succeeding year the haze of Obscurity removes more and more from our view the fast disappearing landmarks of the past, Oblivion sprinkles her dust of forget- fulness on men and their deeds, effectually concealing them from the public eye, and because of the many living objects which claim our attention, few of those who have been removed from the busy world linger long in our memory. Even the glorious achievements of the present age may not insure it from being lost in the glare of greater things to come, and so it is manifestly a duty to posterity for the men of the present time to preserve a record of their lives and a story of their progress from low and humble beginnings to great and noble deeds, in order that future generations may read the account of their successful struggles, and profit by their examples. A local history affords the best means of preserving ancestral history, and it also becomes, immediately upon its publication, a ready book of reference for those who have occasion to seek biographical data of the leading and early settled families. Names, dates and events are not easily remembered by the average man, so it behooves the generations now living, who wish to live in the memory of their descendants, to write their own records, making them full and broad in scope, and minute in detail, and insure their pres- ervation by having them put in printed form. We firmly believe that in these collated personal memoirs will be found as true and as faithful a record of Saunders and Sarpy Counties as may be obtained anywhere, for the very sufficient
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PREFACE
reason that their growth and development are identified with that of the men who have made them what they are today-the representative, leading men, whose personal sketches it has been a pleasure to us to write and give a place in this volume. From the time when the hand of civilized man had not yet violated the virgin soil of the rolling prairies with desecrating plough, to the present period of activity in all branches of industry, we may read in the his- tories of the counties' leading men, and of their ancestors, the steady growth and development which has been going on here for over half a century, and bids fair to continue for centuries to come. A hundred years from now, whatever records of the present time are then extant, having withstood the ravages of time and the ceaseless war of the elements, will be viewed with an absorbing interest, equalling, if not surpassing, that which is taken to-day in the history of the early settlements of America.
It has been our purpose in the preparation of this work to pass over no phase or portion of it slightingly, but to give attention to the smallest points, and thus invest it with an air of accuracy, to be obtained in no other way. The result has amply justified the care that has been taken, for it is our honest belief that no more reliable production, under the circumstances, could have been compiled.
One feature of this work, to which we have given special prominence, and which we are sure will prove of extraordinary interest, is the collection of portraits of the representative and leading citizens, which appear throughout the volume. We have tried to represent the different spheres of industrial and pro- fessional activity as well as we might. To those who have been so uniformly obliging and have kindly interested themselves in the success of this work, volun- teering information and data which have been very helpful to us in preparing this Biographical Record of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, we desire to express our grateful and profound acknowledgment of their valued services.
CHICAGO, ILL., September, 1900.
THE PUBLISHERS.
NOTE
All the biographical sketches published in this volume were submitted to their respective subjects, or to the subscribers, from whom the facts were primarily obtained, for their approval or correction before going to press; and a reasonable time was allowed in each case for the return of the type-written copies. Most of them were returned to us within the time allotted, or before the work was printed, after being corrected or revised; and these may therefore be regarded as reasonably accurate.
A few, however, were not returned to us; and, as we have no means of knowing whether they contain errors or not, we cannot vouch for their accuracy. In justice to our readers, and to render this work more valuable for reference purposes, we have indicated these uncorrected sketches by a small asterisk (*), placed immediately after the name of the subject. They will all be found on the last pages of the book.
BIOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHING CO.
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES, NEBRASKA.
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HON. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GOOD.
Biographical Record
SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES.
ON. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GOOD, judge of the district court of the Fifth Judicial District of Nebras- ka, has been the incumbent of that office since January 1, 1900, but in that short period, by his fairness and high sense of justice, he has become firmly established in the good will of the members of the bar, and of the public in general. He is a gentleman well qualified for the office, by reason of his natural fitness, his superior training and his valuable experience as a practitioner.
Judge Good was born near Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa, April 2, 1860, and is a son of John Good, who was born in Ireland in 1813. The latter was married in that country in 1849, and soon after came to the United States, lo- cating in the state of Ohio, for a brief period. He then spent two years in Wisconsin, living near the city of Sheboygan, and in 1859, he settled in Davis county, Iowa, near the town of Bloomfield, where he made his home until his death, in 1878. Mrs. Good survives him and still lives on the old home property in Davis
county. They reared the following children : Mary, James, John, Benjamin F., Miriam, George W., and William H.
Benjamin Franklin Good was reared on the farm, and received his education in the district schools, and in the Southern Iowa Normal School, at Bloomfield, being a member of the class of 1882. In the State University of Iowa he pursued a special course in languages and history. He then began his preparation for the bar, taking a complete course of study in the law department of the University of Iowa, from which he was graduated June 23, 1885. In August of the same year, he located in Wahoo, Saunders county, Nebraska, and entered into partnership with E. E. Good, the firm name being Good & Good. This firm was known as an exceptionally strong combination of legal talent and they soon acquired a large, lucrative practice and an extended reputation. The part- nership continued until January 1, 1900, when the subject hereof took his seat as judge of the Fifth Judicial District of Nebraska. Judge Good was elected on the Democratic
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BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
ticket-the party with which he has always affiliated. He was made a member of the faculty of the State University of Nebraska in 1892, and each year since that date has de- livered a course of lectures on "Limitation of Actions."
On June II, 1890, Judge Good was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Jennie Jessen, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret ( Martin) Jessen. Mrs. Jessen first came to Nebraska, in 1853, settling on a homestead which she took up, adjoining the place of J. Sterling Morton. She taught the first school in the state, it being held in a little log school house in Nebraska City. The first marriage certificate granted in Nebraska was for the marriage of Andrew Jes- sen to Margaret Martin. Judge Good and his wife are the parents of two children, namely : Anabel, who was born May 9, 1891, and Paul F., born March 16, 1893. Fraternally, the Judge was a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 14, F. & A. M., of Bloomfield, but had his mem- bership transferred to Lodge No. 59 at Wahoo, Nebraska, and served as master of the latter from 1890 to 1891. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, being one of the founders of the lodge at Wahoo, in 1888, and its first chancellor commander. A portrait of Judge Good is shown on a preceding page.
AMES W. REYNOLDS is a well-to-do and up-to-date farmer and a worthy representative of one of the early pio- neer settlers of Sarpy county, Nebraska, as his
father, Wilson Reynolds, located within the borders of the county when the white men there were comparatively few.
Wilson Reynolds was a son of John Reyn- olds, and was born February II, 1833, in Brown county, Ohio, but was reared in Illi- nois. Wilson Reynolds was married Decem- ber 3, 1872, to Frances A. Jarvis, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Curtis) Jarvis. Edward Jarvis died a few years after his marriage, and Mrs. Jarvis became the wife of John Miller. In 1853, Wilson Reynolds located in Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he followed teaming between that locality and Denver, Colorado. Subsequently he took up a claim near the Sarpy Mills, which he sold a few years previous to his marriage. He served in the Union army throughout the Civil War-belonging to an Iowa regiment. Upon his return from the war he again spent his time in breaking the barren prairie, and in 1871 he traded 160 acres in Richland precinct for 120 acres where his fam- ily now resides. He set out shade and fruit trees, erected a fine barn and corn-cribs, and in 1892 built a handsome home. The build- ings on the farm are in good condition and the land is richly cultivated-all of which is the result of his labors. He always kept about 30 head of cattle and about 60 hogs. His two sons, James W. and Albert J., and his widow now conduct the farm, and they have won a place in the ranks of the best farmers of Sarpy county.
Wilson Reynolds was the father of six chil- dren, who were named as follows : James W., Catherine N., Albert J., Fannie M., Mattie C.,
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SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES
and Mary J., deceased. Mr. Reynolds passed from this life September 11, 1897, and his death was deeply deplored by both his family, who knew him as a kind and loving husband and father, and by his many acquaintances throughout the county, who esteemed him as a good neighbor and a generous and whole- souled man. He was a faithful worker in the Methodist church, of which he became a mem- ber in 1859. In politics he was a Republican and served nine years as a school director.
DWARD J. UPJOHN is a prosper- ous and intelligent farmer residing in Laplatte precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska, and is a descendant of one of the early pioneer settlers of the county. He was born in Plainwell, Michigan, in 1852, where he was also reared and schooled, and he is a son of Dr. Erastus N. Upjohn.
Dr. Erastus N. Upjohn was a native of Eng- land, and upon his arrival in this country he located at Rochester, New York, where he fol- lowed his profession for a score of years; from there he went to Michigan, where he spent another twenty years, and in 1854 he went to Sarpy county, Nebraska. He homesteaded a farm near Springfield, in that county, which is now owned by J. Forkner, and afterward bought 160 acres from John Enoch, and, while he pursued his profession, his sons improved the farm. He died in 1880, aged seventy-two years. His wife was Myra Thompson, a daughter of Dr. Thompson. After Mr. Up-
john's death, she wedded Richard H. Hoge- boon, but she is now a widow, residing at La- platte. To Dr. Upjohn and his wife were born the following children: Erastus N., Edward J., William C., a physician; Eliza J., and Mar- cus T.
Edward J. Upjohn came to Nebraska with his parents, and now owns 90 acres of the old homestead. He carries on mainly grain rais- ing. Upon his farm he has made many im- provements, such as putting up a fine house and a good barn. He raises from 50 to 60 bushels of corn to the acre, and from 35 to 50 bushels of oats. He is a conscientious worker, and among his fellow farmers he is known as a good, peaceful neighbor and citizen. He was joined in marriage with Frances Rob- ertson, a daughter of Theodore H. Robertson, who was an early settler of Sarpy county, com- ing from Ohio. To this happy union five chil- dren have been born: Ida, Bertha, Julia, Wil- liam and Edward J., Jr. Politically the subject of this sketch is a Democrat and has served as assessor, road supervisor and member of the school board.
R' ICHARD DANIELL is a prominent and representative farmer of Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he has spent many years engaged in stock raising, in which he has attained a high degree of success. He makes a specialty of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle, and is one of the largest cattle raisers in his section of the state. It is probable that
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BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
he brought the first thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle into the state of Nebraska which were shipped in on cars. He has one of the best farms in Sarpy county, which is now in charge of his son, Thomas R. Daniell. Richard Daniell's success in life is due entirely to his own energy and constant, persevering industry, as, when he started out in life in this country, he worked as a day laborer. He is a good business man, and through fair and honest dealing commands the respect and confidence of all who know him. He is a native of England, having been born in Devonshire, in 1830.
"Uncle Dick," as he is more familiarly known, received his early schooling in his na- tive town, and his early youth was spent in learning the trade of a butcher. This trade he followed in Devonshire, until 1852, when he came to the United States in the hope of better- ing his finances. At first he settled among the Germans in Pennsylvania, where prospects were anything but bright at the outset. He finally secured a position on the railroad with the grading gang, of which he soon became "boss," and after he had worked in that capac- ity nine months he went to Canada, where he followed his trade for three years. During that short period, by the strictest economy, he succeeded in laying aside a portion of his hard earned salary. Upon going to Kalamazoo, Michigan, he opened a butcher's shop of his own, besides devoting much time to the ship- ping of cattle. Until 1867 he conducted a prof- itable business, but in that year he disposed of his business and property there and moved to Sarpy county, Nebraska, bringing with him
some fine thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle, the moving of which cost him $1,300. As he was undecided as to whether he would locate there permanently, he rented a place for the first year, but in 1868 he purchased 120 acres, of Aaron Alfred, of which only 40 acres had been broken. He later bought 160 acres from Mr. Smith, which had been pre-empted by R. Anderson; 160 acres which was pre-empted by Judge Ferguson; 80 acres from Mr. Myers, which was pre-empted by Mr. Thompson ; and 160 acres from Mr. J. Watson. All of this property is included in one farm, and on it he has a fine residence, in which he lives; a home for his son; and mammoth feed stables, gran- aries and stock yards. He has a three-acre orchard and several acres of second growth trees, which resemble a park. He feeds about 200 cattle for the market each year, and besides he sells about 60 thoroughbred Shorthorn bulls per year, the price per head ranging from $100 to $500. When Mr. Daniell commenced feeding cattle he was told by a substantial and well-to-do farmer that every bit of grain used in feeding cattle was just that much throwit away, but the subject hereof has demonstrated that cattle raising is one of the most profitable enterprises in which a farmer can engage.
Mr. Daniell's first wife was Harriet Osler, who died, aged thirty-five years, and his second union was with Mrs. Annie Gladhill, who had one son, T. E. Gladhill, a prominent farmer of Sarpy county, who was reared and started out in life by Mr. Daniell. The second marriage re- sulted in the birth of one son, Thomas R., who now manages the farm. Thomas R. Daniell
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SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES
married Ruth Gates, by whom he has six chil- dren : Mildred, Irene, Gertrude, Isola, Rich- ard, and Amos.
RANCIS E. CALDWELL is the owner and operator of a saw and grist mill in Laplatte precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska, and in addition to carrying on a profitable business in that line he is also en- gaged in farming. Mr. Caldwell is a good business man, and his honest and upright busi- ness methods have brought trade from points many miles away. He is a native of Jefferson county, New York, and a son of Roswell and Marietta (Watson) Caldwell. His father was a leather dealer for many years, in which line he was quite successful.
Francis E. Caldwell was reared and schooled in Michigan, and when a lad of seventeen years he commenced working around a saw mill, as- sisting in cutting the huge timbers that grew in that state. In 1855 he crossed the Missouri River into the territory of Nebraska and se- cured a position in the Larimer Mills, near Laplatte. While there he helped to turn out the lumber to be used in the building of the first capitol of Nebraska, and he also helped to get out the lumber to be used in the erection of the first church in Omaha. The church stood on Ninth street and was of the Catholic denomi- nation. In 1866 Mr. Caldwell bought of his mother a tract of 80 acres, which was pre- empted by her brother, Charles Watson, and left to her upon his death, in 1859. Although
previous to that time he had taken up a claim in Cass county, Nebraska, he began to make many improvements on the property purchased from his mother. He first put out cottonwood slips, which in the course of fifteen years grew to be trees three feet in diameter. In 1882 he built a grist mill 30 by 30 feet in dimen- sions, which was run by a steam engine of II horse power, and, in 1884, lie added a sawmill 16 by 50 feet in size. Both mills are largely patronized, as they are the only ones in his vicinity. The grist mill has a capacity of 300 bushels per day, but it is very seldom that so much grain is received. Mr. Caldwell is meeting with deserved success in his present business, and is one of the substantial men of his community.
Mr. Caldwell was joined in marriage with Eveline Irwin, a daughter of Joseph and Re- becca Irwin, of Woodstock, Ohio. No two of Sarpy county's pioneers are better preserved and retain their early vigor more notably than Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell. The subject of this sketch is a Republican in politics and has served as road supervisor. Socially he is a Mason, belonging to Nebraska Lodge, No. I, and served ten consecutive years as master. He also belongs to Bellevue Chapter, of Omaha.
HOMAS BERTON HOLMAN, a retired citizen of Laplatte, is one of the early settlers of Sarpy county, Nebraska, within whose borders he has resided since 1859, and he has done his share toward developing it
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BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
from bare prairie into fine fertile fields, so that it now ranks among the best agricultural coun- ties in the state. Until 1895 he labored con- stantly but in that year he retired from active life-though he still owns his farm-and he is now spending his last days in comfort and happiness. He was born in Hannibal, Marion county, Missouri, in 1839, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Musgrove) Holman. Thomas Holman was also a farmer.
Thomas Berton Holman, the subject of this sketch, was born and reared on a farm, and in 1859 he left home to go to Pike's Peak, Col- orado, but on arriving at Omaha, Nebraska, in the middle of December, he decided to spend the winter there. During that winter he worked in a shingle mill, and then carried on a freighting business from Omaha, Plattsmouth and Nebraska City to Denver, Colorado. He continued in that occupation until 1866, when he bought 160 acres of land in Laplatte pre- cinct, in sections 24, 25 and 26. In 1866 he put up a neat house and planted seed for a grove; some of the trees from that seed have grown to be 18 inches in diameter. Most of them are maple, but the few cotton- wood slips he set out have grown to be three feet in diameter. In the early days he and Mr. S. B. Bachelder bought a saw mill, which they inoved from the river to Elk Horn, near Gretna, and there operated it for nearly two years. Upon giving it up, Mr. Holman devoted his entire attention to general farming and stock raising. He always kept about 80 head of cattle and about 100 hogs. From his orchard, which consisted of about 300 trees,
he raised a large quantity of choice fruit. Mr. Holman was one of the most substantial and progressive farmers of his community. Throughout the county he has a wide acquaint- ance, who know him as a good neighbor and loyal citizen-always willing to lend a helping hand and always using his influence in behalf of worthy enterprises.
Mr. Holman was joined in marriage with Amanda Jane Ingersoll, and they had four children, namely: Hallie Thomas, deceased ; Bertie James, a farmer, who married Emma Knolkee and has two children, Mildred and Ralph; Lizzie, deceased; and Inez, living at home. In 1884 the subject of this sketch served as assessor, road supervisor, justice of the peace, and on the school board. He and his family are Methodists. In 1895 Mr. Holman helped to organize the State Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, of South Omaha, of which he has since served as president, and of which B. F. Stauffer is secretary, and Eugene Curtie is treasurer.
NTON CHAPEK, proprietor of the gen- eral merchandise store at Morse Bluff, Saunders county, Nebraska, was born in Bohemia, September 7, 1859. He is a son of Matthias Chapek, deceased, and Kather- ine (Hurt) Chapek, living in Colfax county, Nebraska. Up to his twenty-first year he at- tended the public schools, and also learned the trade of furniture and cabinet making.
In 1880 Mr. Chapek came to the United States and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where
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SAUNDERS AND SARPY COUNTIES
he worked at his trade two years. He after- ward worked in the blast furnaces in Cleve- land. On March 19, 1884, he moved to Saun- ders county, Nebraska, and rented a farm, which he conducted successfully for three years. He then sold out, quit farming and engaged in the furniture business. At the end of four years he again sold out, purchased a farm, and followed agricultural pursuits about four years. Then he traded the farm for the general mer- chandise business which he now conducts. He is credited with having the leading general mer- chandise store in his section of Saunders county.
In 1886 Mr. Chapek married Josie Vavra, a daughter of Frank and Barbara Vavra. They have two children, Julia Ann, aged thirteen years, and Hobart Anton, aged four years. Mr. Chapek is a member of the Lutheran church, and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica.
ILAS SHIRLEY has been one of Sarpy county's industrious and en- terprising farmers since 1867, in which year he bought 40 acres of land in Laplatte precinct from Peter Lewis, and he has devoted his entire time to the development of that tract ever since its purchase. At the time he became the possessor of this property, the land had been improved but little, and it had only a small frame house. He has since remod- eled and enlarged the house, besides erecting a good barn and several outbuildings, and he has also made a wonderful improvement by the cul-
tivation of the soil. One of the largest yields of oats in Sarpy county is the record of 83 bushels to the acre, held by our subject; his average yield, however, is 50 bushels to the acre. He has a fine grove of shade trees around his house and has, besides, a good orchard and a vine- yard.
Mr. Shirley was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1829, and is a son of Philander Shirley, who was a farmer until his death in Seneca county, and married Charlotte A., a daughter of James M. and Laura R. (Kinney) Wilkinson, who moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1856. Her father ran a stage formerly and was later probate judge in Butler county, Ne- braska. He died, aged seventy-three years, nine months and one day. His wife was sixty- two years, one month and twenty-five days old at the time of her death. They were the par- ents of the following children : Abbie B., Ma- ria S., Charlotte A., Emily N., William, John C., and James F. D. Although Silas Shirley and his wife are the parents of no children, they have nevertheless reared several, and when one has grown up and started out to face the world, Mr. and Mrs. Shirley were ever ready to make a happy home for another.
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